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The First Visitors
The Dutch were the first Europeans to sail to Australia. The Dutch made one landing, were attacked by Aborigines, and then abandoned further exploration. -
Captain James Cook
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia. Cook named the area New South Wales and ignored the Aborigines living there & claimed
the land for England. -
The First Fleet
British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony. -
That was Quick
British prisoners settled in Australia. -
Penal Colony
New South Wales was officially a penal colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines, and the marines’ families -
Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Tasmania, was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. In addition, Port Arthur had some of the strictest security measures of the British penal system. -
Boundaries
government officials created boundaries for the colonies that are still in place today -
Commonwealth
the Commonwealth of Australia was established. -
White Australia
Originally, Australia promoted a policy called “White
Australia” They would not allow non-Caucasians to immigrate to Australia. That has since changed… -
Melbourne
Melbourne served as the national capital until Canberra was completed in.